U.S. patent application number 17/080682 was filed with the patent office on 2021-02-11 for electronic pen.
The applicant listed for this patent is Wacom Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kenichi Ninomiya, Ryuto Sakamoto, Kohei Tanaka.
Application Number | 20210041964 17/080682 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005195617 |
Filed Date | 2021-02-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210041964 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanaka; Kohei ; et
al. |
February 11, 2021 |
ELECTRONIC PEN
Abstract
An electronic pen includes an electrically conductive coil
spring that expands and contracts, a core body having electrical
conductivity, a writing pressure detector having a fitting part
fitted to an end of the core body on a side of the core body that
is opposite to a side of the core body that includes a pen tip, and
an electronic circuit that includes an oscillating circuit. The
electronic circuit, in operation, causes a detection result from
the writing pressure detector to be included in a signal from the
oscillating circuit. The core body penetrates through a center axis
of the coil spring and is not biased by the coil spring, and a
first end of the coil spring on a side of the coil spring adjacent
to the pen tip is connected to the core body and a second end of
the coil spring is connected to the electronic circuit.
Inventors: |
Tanaka; Kohei; (Saitama,
JP) ; Ninomiya; Kenichi; (Saitama, JP) ;
Sakamoto; Ryuto; (Saitama, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wacom Co., Ltd. |
Saitama |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005195617 |
Appl. No.: |
17/080682 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2019/009886 |
Mar 12, 2019 |
|
|
|
17080682 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0383 20130101;
G06F 3/03545 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/038 20060101
G06F003/038; G06F 3/0354 20060101 G06F003/0354 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 25, 2018 |
JP |
2018-100233 |
Claims
1. An electronic pen of a capacitive system, comprising: a coil
spring that is configured to expand and contract, and has
electrical conductivity; a core body having electrical
conductivity; a writing pressure detector having a fitting part
fitted to an end of the core body on a side of the core body that
is opposite to a side of the core body that includes a pen tip; and
an electronic circuit that includes an oscillating circuit, wherein
the electronic circuit, in operation, causes a detection result
from the writing pressure detector to be included in a signal from
the oscillating circuit, wherein the core body penetrates through a
center axis of the coil spring and is not biased by the coil
spring, and a first end of the coil spring on a side of the coil
spring adjacent to the pen tip is connected to the core body and a
second end of the coil spring is connected to the electronic
circuit.
2. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein: the core body
includes a pen tip part including the pent tip, and a shaft part,
an end of the shaft part on a side of the shaft part adjacent to
the pen tip part has a fitting part to which an end of the pen tip
part on a side of the pen tip part opposite to a side of the pen
tip part including the pen tip is fitted, and the first end of the
coil spring on the side of the coil spring adjacent to the pen tip
is clamped between the pen tip part and the shaft part at the
fitting part of the shaft part.
3. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein: the core body
includes a pen tip part including the pent tip, a shaft part, and
an electrically-conductive elastic component, the
electrically-conductive elastic component is fixed to an end of the
shaft part on a side of the shaft part adjacent to the pen tip
part, the first end of the coil spring on the side of the coil
spring adjacent to the pen tip is clamped between the
electrically-conductive elastic component and the shaft part, and
the pen tip part is gripped by the electrically-conductive elastic
component.
4. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein: the coil
spring is connected to the core body and the electronic circuit in
a state in which the coil spring has a natural length, the coil
spring has the natural length while the coil spring is not expanded
or contracted, and the coil spring, in operation, contracts when a
writing pressure is applied to the core body and returns to the
natural length upon release of the writing pressure.
5. The electronic pen according to claim 1, wherein: a spring
constant of the coil spring enables expansion and contraction of
the coil spring in response to a force smaller than 1 gram.
Description
BACKGROUND
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic pen that
implements functions as a position indicator for a position
detecting device of the capacitive system.
Background Art
[0002] Position detecting devices are mounted in tablet devices and
so forth that are input devices of personal computers. In the
position detecting device, a position indication signal from the
pen tip of an electronic pen is received and position indication to
the position detecting device by the electronic pen is detected. In
this case, a writing pressure detector that detects the pressure
(writing pressure) applied to the pen tip is mounted in the
electronic pen in order to properly discriminate the case in which
the electronic pen is brought into contact with an operation
surface of the position detecting device and input operation is
being carried out (writing state). The electronic pen causes a
detection result in this writing pressure detector to be included
in the position indication signal and transmits the position
indication signal to the position detecting device.
[0003] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict diagrams illustrating a configuration
example of a related-art electronic pen of the capacitive system.
As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the pen tip side of a casing 100 of the
electronic pen is formed into a tapered shape. A pen tip part 101
is inserted into the inside of the casing 100 from this tapered tip
and is attached to a pen tip shaft 103 through a connecting
component 102. The pen tip part 101, the connecting component 102,
and the pen tip shaft 103 are all formed of an
electrically-conductive material. The end part of the pen tip shaft
103 on the opposite side to the pen tip side is inserted and
attached into a fitting hole of a pressing component 1051 of a
writing pressure detector 105.
[0004] The writing pressure detector 105 includes the pressing
component 1051, a first electrode 1052, a dielectric 1053, and a
second electrode 1054, and a gap is made between the first
electrode 1052 and the dielectric 1053. Furthermore, the pen tip
part 101 and the pen tip shaft 103 press the first electrode 1052
through the pressing component 1051 according to the writing
pressure applied to the tip of the pen tip part 101, and the
writing pressure can be detected according to the capacitance
between the first electrode 1052 and the second electrode 1054 that
changes according to this pressing.
[0005] A circuit board on which an electronic circuit is formed is
disposed on the rear stage side of the writing pressure detector
105 (on the opposite side to the pen tip). This electronic circuit
formed on the circuit board is what is formed through connecting
electronic parts such as an oscillating circuit, a power supply
circuit, and a capacitor. Furthermore, holding components 107, 108,
109, and so forth have a role in restriction, fixation, and so
forth of the position in the casing 100 regarding various parts
mounted in the casing 100.
[0006] Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 5A and as illustrated also
in FIG. 5B in a magnified manner, an electrically-conductive coil
spring 104 is disposed around the part of the pen tip shaft 103 on
the side of the writing pressure detector 105. Through the coil
spring 104, a position indication signal including writing pressure
information from the electronic circuit formed through connecting
the oscillating circuit and so forth is supplied to the pen tip
part 101 through the pen tip shaft 103 and the connecting component
102, and the position indication signal is transmitted from the pen
tip of the pen tip part 101 toward the position detecting device.
However, the coil spring 104 is not fixed directly to the pen tip
shaft 103.
[0007] As described above, the pen tip part 101 and the pen tip
shaft 103 frequently move in the axis center direction according to
the writing pressure applied to the pen tip of the pen tip part
101. When merely the coil spring 104 is in contact with the pen tip
shaft 103, there is concern that the coil spring 104 comes off the
pen tip shaft 103 and contact failure occurs in association with
such frequent movement. For this reason, the coil spring 104 is
pressed against the pen tip shaft 103 that frequently moves in the
axis center direction with a certain degree of pressure to thereby
allow a sure electrical connection to be made. That is, a force by
the coil spring 104 is applied to the pen tip shaft 103
originally.
[0008] On the other hand, the coil spring 104 is a small coil and
therefore the spring constant as the coil involves variation. In
writing pressure detection of the electronic pen, detection of
subtle force adjustment like force adjustment regarding whether or
not a pen tip gets contact with paper, for example, is required. In
view of this, the reliability of the electronic pen is affected if
there is variation in the force applied to the pen tip shaft 103 by
the coil spring 104. Thus, Japanese Patent No. 5761773
(hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) to be described
later discloses an invention for detecting the writing pressure to
allow use of the writing pressure rapidly and accurately and for
enabling indication input by an electronic pen even when merely the
pen tip of the pen tip part 101 slightly gets contact with an
operation surface of a position detecting device.
[0009] Specifically, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document
1, evaporation or the like of an electrically-conductive substance
on a polyimide film is carried out and an electronic circuit and a
core body mounted in the electronic pen are always electrically
connected by using it. In this case, the polyimide film protects
the electrically-conductive substance evaporated thereon and allows
keeping of the electrical connection between the electronic circuit
and the core body. This makes it possible to properly keep the
connection between the pen tip part that frequently moves in the
axis center direction and the electronic circuit.
[0010] One of targets of the position detecting device and the
electronic pen is to electronically reproduce a relation between
existing paper and pencil. In the relation between paper and
pencil, that a writing trace is left through mere contact of the
pencil with the paper is also one important characteristic
(function). For this reason, also in a relation between the
position detecting device and the electronic pen, that the writing
pressure applied to the pen tip of the electronic pen can be
detected with high precision and the writing pressure can be
notified to the position detecting device rapidly and accurately is
an important issue.
[0011] Due to the invention disclosed in the above-described Patent
Document 1, it becomes possible to always electrically connect the
electronic circuit and the core body mounted in the electronic pen
and detect the writing pressure rapidly and accurately. However, a
problem in ensuring the contact between the polyimide film on which
the electrically-conductive substance has been evaporated and the
electrically-conductive core body also arises. For this reason, it
is desired to allow the electronic circuit and the core body to be
electrically connected as easily as possible and surely.
Furthermore, for example, it is desired to allow information input
enabling reproduction of the situation in which a slight writing
trace is left through mere contact of a pencil with paper with
higher precision also through the position detecting device with
the electronic pen.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0012] In view of the above, the present disclosure intends to
implement an electronic pen that enables delicate information input
like that carried out on paper with use of a pencil to be carried
out to a position detecting device without making configurations
and steps in manufacturing complicated.
[0013] In order to solve the above-described problem, the present
disclosure implements an electronic pen of a capacitive system
having a coil spring that is configured to expand and contract and
has electrical conductivity, a core body having electrical
conductivity, a writing pressure detector having a fitting part
fitted to an end of the core body on a side of the core body that
is opposite to a side of the core body that includes a pen tip, and
an electronic circuit that includes an oscillating circuit, wherein
the electronic circuit, in operation, causes a detection result
from the writing pressure detector to be included in a signal from
the oscillating circuit. The core body penetrates through a center
axis part of the coil spring and is not biased by the coil spring,
and a first end of the coil spring on a side of the coil spring
adjacent to the pen tip is connected to the core body and a second
end of the coil spring is connected to the electronic circuit.
[0014] According to this electronic pen, the core body is fitted to
the fitting part of the writing pressure detector and transmits the
writing pressure applied to the core body to the writing pressure
detector, so that detection of the writing pressure is enabled. The
detection result in the writing pressure detector is supplied to
the electronic circuit and is caused to be included in the signal
from the oscillating circuit and is output so as to be transmitted
to the position detecting device. Furthermore, the core body
penetrates through the center axis part of the coil spring, and the
first end of this coil spring on the side of the coil spring
adjacent to the pen tip is connected to the core body and the
second end part is connected to the electronic circuit. The core
body is disposed in such a manner as not to be biased by this coil
spring in the state in which the core body is not used for
writing.
[0015] That is, the core body is connected to the electronic
circuit by the coil spring and the state in which the position
indication signal can be sent out at any time is kept. Moreover,
when even a slight writing pressure is applied to the core body
disposed to penetrate through the center axis part of this coil
spring, this coil spring contracts and the writing pressure is
smoothly transmitted to the writing pressure detector. This can
implement a high-precision electronic pen that can properly carry
out the detection of the slight writing pressure and the
transmission of the position indication signal including
information that indicates the detected writing pressure according
to operation by the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration
example of an electronic pen of a capacitive system according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration
example of a position detecting device of a capacitive system with
which an electronic pen is used according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0018] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C depict diagrams for explaining an
example of the electronic pen of the capacitive system according to
the embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining another example of the
electronic pen of the capacitive system according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure; and
[0020] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict diagrams illustrating a configuration
example of a related-art electronic pen of the capacitive
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] An electronic pen of a capacitive system according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with
reference to the drawings.
[Configuration Example of Electronic Pen Pn]
[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration
example of an electronic pen Pn of the capacitive system according
to the embodiment. In the casing of the electronic pen Pn, a
circuit board on which an electronic circuit including various
circuit parts such as an oscillating circuit 51, a power supply
circuit 52, and a capacitor is formed is mounted. The oscillating
circuit 51 is a circuit that generates a position indication signal
transmitted from the electronic pen Pn. The power supply circuit 52
includes a power supply such as a primary battery or secondary
battery, a circuit that forms driving power supplied to the
respective parts from the power of this power supply, and so
forth.
[0023] Furthermore, a writing pressure detector 3 that detects the
writing pressure (value) applied to a core body 1 is disposed in
the casing of the electronic pen Pn. The writing pressure detected
by the writing pressure detector 3 is supplied to the electronic
circuit including the oscillating circuit 51 and so forth and is
caused to be included in the position indication signal from the
oscillating circuit 51 and is output through processing such as
modulation of the position indication signal by this writing
pressure.
[0024] The core body 1 formed of an electrically-conductive
material is connected to the electronic circuit having the
oscillating circuit 51 and so forth through a coil spring 2. The
coil spring 2 can expand and contract and has electrical
conductivity. Due to this, the core body 1 is always electrically
connected to the electronic circuit including the oscillating
circuit 51 and so forth and can receive supply of the position
indication signal from the electronic circuit at any time and
transmit it.
[0025] The coil spring 2 has a natural length in the state in which
the core body 1 and the electronic circuit are connected and in the
state in which a writing pressure is not applied to the core body
1. Furthermore, the coil spring 2 immediately contracts even when
only a slight writing pressure is applied to the core body 1, and
can smoothly return to the original natural length when this
writing pressure is removed. Moreover, the natural length of the
coil spring 2 is a length that is sufficiently long compared with
the coil spring that connects the electronic circuit and the core
body used in the related-art electronic pen and allows mass
production of coil springs of the same standard in which the spring
constant is constant.
[0026] In general, if the coil spring has a high spring constant
and has a high elastic modulus, a large force is necessary when it
is contracted or expanded. For this reason, when the spring
constant of the coil spring 2 is high, the elastic modulus also
becomes high. This impedes the movement of the core body 1 to which
the coil spring 2 is connected in the axis center direction, which
precludes proper detection of the writing pressure. Furthermore, a
high load is imposed on the connecting parts of the core body 1 and
the electronic circuit to which the coil spring 2 is connected.
[0027] Thus, in the electronic pen Pn of this embodiment, as the
coil spring 2, a coil spring is used that has a sufficiently low
spring constant and therefore has also a low elastic modulus and
contracts with a slight writing pressure and can rapidly return to
the original state when this writing pressure is removed.
Specifically, the coil spring 2 is a coil spring that can greatly
contract immediately according to the writing pressure even with a
slight writing pressure lower than 1 gram, for example.
[0028] Therefore, in the case of the electronic pen Pn of this
embodiment, when a writing pressure is applied to the core body 1,
the coil spring 2 does not impede pressing of the writing pressure
detector 3 by the core body 1 and thus detection of a slight
writing pressure is also enabled. Furthermore, both regarding the
core body 1 to which the coil spring 2 is connected (fixed) and
regarding the electronic circuit, a large force is not applied to
the relevant connecting part. Moreover, variation in writing
pressure detection of the electronic pen Pn due to variation in the
coil spring 2 does not occur and it becomes possible to implement
an electronic pen with high precision.
[Configuration Example of Position Detecting Device 200]
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration
example of a position detecting device 200 of the capacitive system
with which the electronic pen Pn is used. As illustrated in FIG. 2,
the position detecting device 200 includes a sensor 210 and a pen
detecting circuit 220 connected to the sensor 210.
[0030] The sensor 210 is formed by stacking a first conductor group
211 and a second conductor group 212. The first conductor group 211
is a group in which plural first conductors 211Y.sub.1 to
211Y.sub.m that extend in the horizontal direction (X-axis
direction) are disposed in a Y-axis direction in parallel
separately from each other by a predetermined interval, for
example. Furthermore, the second conductor group 212 is a group in
which plural second conductors 212X.sub.1 to 212X.sub.n that extend
in a direction that intersects the first conductors, in this
example, the vertical direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to
the first conductors, are disposed in the X-axis direction in
parallel separately from each other by a predetermined
interval.
[0031] As above, the sensor 210 of the position detecting device
200 has a configuration in which the position indicated by the
electronic pen Pn of the capacitive system is detected by using the
sensor pattern formed by making the first conductor group 211 and
the second conductor group 212 intersect. In the description of
FIG. 2, when one in the first conductors 211Y.sub.1 to 211Y.sub.m
is illustrated, this one is described as the first conductor 211Y.
When one in the second conductors 212X.sub.1 to 212X.sub.n is
illustrated, this one is described as the second conductor
212X.
[0032] The pen detecting circuit 220 includes a selecting circuit
221 used as an input-output interface with the sensor 210, an
amplifying circuit 222, a received-signal processing circuit 223,
and a control circuit 224. Although not illustrated in the diagram,
the received-signal processing circuit 223 includes a band-pass
filter, a detection circuit, a sample-hold circuit, an analog to
digital (AD) conversion circuit, and so forth.
[0033] The selecting circuit 221 selects one conductor 211Y or 212X
from the first conductor group 211 and the second conductor group
212, based on a control signal from the control circuit 224. The
conductor selected by the selecting circuit 221 is connected to the
amplifying circuit 222 and a signal from the electronic pen Pn of
the capacitive system is detected by the selected conductor and is
amplified by the amplifying circuit 222. The output of the
amplifying circuit 222 is supplied to the received-signal
processing circuit 223. The received-signal processing circuit 223
subjects the signal supplied thereto to band limitation and
detection processing. Thereafter, the received-signal processing
circuit 223 samples and holds the signal and converts it to a
digital signal to supply the digital signal to the control circuit
224.
[0034] The control circuit 224 supplies a control signal to the
selecting circuit 221 and controls the selecting circuit 221, based
on a program stored in an internal read only memory (ROM). In
addition, the control circuit 224 supplies a control signal also to
the received-signal processing circuit 223 and controls the
received-signal processing circuit 223. Furthermore, from digital
data from the received-signal processing circuit 223, the control
circuit 224 calculates the position coordinates on the sensor 210
indicated by the electronic pen Pn and detects the writing pressure
detected by the writing pressure detector 3 of the electronic pen
Pn.
[0035] As above, the position detecting device 200 detects the
indicated position and the writing pressure by the electronic pen
Pn and supplies them to a computer device, for example, to allow
implementation of displaying of a writing trace by the electronic
pen Pn on a display screen, and so forth. Furthermore, the
electronic pen Pn of this embodiment is a high-precision electronic
pen that can properly detect even a slight writing pressure and
cause the writing pressure to be included in a position indication
signal to rapidly transmit the position indication signal to the
position detecting device 200 as described above. This enables
execution of delicate rendering input to the computer through the
position detecting device 200 and displaying of delicate rendering
on a display, for example, and so forth.
[Configuration Example of Inside of Electronic Pen Pn]
[0036] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C depicts diagram for explaining a
configuration example of the inside of the electronic pen Pn of the
capacitive system according to an embodiment and is a diagram for
explaining the main part of the pen tip side. As illustrated in a
sectional view of the pen-tip-side part of the electronic pen Pn in
FIG. 3A, the electronic pen Pn of this embodiment includes a casing
10 in which the pen tip side is tapered. A bar-shaped pen tip part
11 whose tip serves as a rounded pen tip is inserted into the
inside of the casing 10 from the tip of the tapered casing 10. The
end part of the pen tip part 11 on the opposite side to the pen tip
side is connected to a shaft part 13 and is fixed by an
electrically-conductive elastic component 12.
[0037] As above, in the electronic pen Pn of this embodiment, the
pen tip part 11 and the shaft part 13 are connected in series
through the electrically-conductive elastic component 12 and
thereby the one bar-shaped core body 1 is configured. Furthermore,
the pen tip part 11 and the shaft part 13 are both formed of a
material having electrical conductivity. The pen tip part 11 and
the shaft part 13 can be formed by various electrically-conductive
materials such as a metal and a hard resin into which carbon
powders are mixed, for example. Needless to say, it suffices that
the pen tip part 11 and the shaft part 13 have electrical
conductivity, and they may be each formed of a different
material.
[0038] As above, the pen tip part 11 and the shaft part 13 both
having electrical conductivity are connected through the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 and therefore the one
continuous core body 1 having electrical conductivity as a whole
can be configured. Furthermore, the electronic pen Pn has a
configuration in which the pen tip part 11 is mounted to the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12. The
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 does not only have
electrical conductivity but is also an elastic component and
therefore attachment and detachment of the pen tip part 11 to and
from it are enabled. This allows the pen tip part 11 to be replaced
according to need.
[0039] Moreover, the end part of the shaft part 13 on the opposite
side to the pen tip side is inserted into a fitting hole of a
pressing component 31 of the writing pressure detector 3 and is
attached to the writing pressure detector 3. The writing pressure
detector 3 includes the pressing component 31, a first electrode
32, a dielectric 33, and a second electrode 34. Although not
illustrated in FIG. 3A, a ring-shaped spacer is located between the
first electrode 32 and the dielectric 33 and thereby a gap is made
therebetween. When a writing pressure is applied to the tip (pen
tip) of the pen tip part 11, the core body 1 including the pen tip
part 11, the electrically-conductive elastic component 12, and the
shaft part 13 is pushed in the axis center direction and presses
the first electrode 32 through the pressing component 31.
[0040] Thereby, the first electrode 32 is pushed to move toward the
side of the dielectric 33 and gets contact with the dielectric 33
to change a contact area thereof according to the pressing force.
In this case, the capacitance between the first electrode 32 and
the second electrode 34 changes according to a distance between the
first electrode 32 and the dielectric 33 and the contact area
between the first electrode 32 and the dielectric 33. The writing
pressure applied to the core body 1 can be detected according to
this change in the capacitance.
[0041] For this purpose, although not illustrated in FIG. 3A, an
electrically-conductive line is extended from each of the first
electrode and the second electrode of the writing pressure detector
3 and is connected to an electronic circuit formed on a circuit
board 5 disposed on the opposite side to the pen tip side of the
writing pressure detector 3. Due to this, in the electronic circuit
formed on the circuit board 5, provision of a detection result from
the writing pressure detector 3 can be received and the writing
pressure can be identified. Furthermore, the writing pressure can
be caused to be included in a position indication signal from the
oscillating circuit 51 mounted in this electronic circuit and the
position indication signal can be sent out.
[0042] A holding component 4 disposed in the casing 10 is a
component that fixes the circuit board 5 in the casing 10.
Furthermore, holding components 6, 7, 8, and so forth disposed in
the casing 10 have a role in restriction, fixation, and so forth of
the position in the casing 10 regarding various parts mounted in
the casing 10.
[0043] Moreover, in the electronic pen Pn, the core body 1 and the
electronic circuit on the circuit board 5 are always electrically
connected by the coil spring 2 that can expand and contract and has
electrical conductivity. FIG. 3B is an enlarged sectional view of a
connecting part between the core body 1 and the coil spring 2. FIG.
3C is an exploded perspective view of components that configure
this connecting part. As illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the
pen tip part 11 and the shaft part 13 are connected through the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the shaft part 13 includes a
fitting part 13A to which the electrically-conductive elastic
component 12 is fitted and a bar-shaped part 13B. To the fitting
part 13A, the electrically-conductive elastic component 12 is
fitted as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. When the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 is fitted to an
appropriate position on the fitting part 13A, a protrusion that
extends inward in the fitting part 13A engages with a part of the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 corresponding to this
protrusion, so that the electrically-conductive elastic component
12 becomes incapable of being easily removed from the fitting part
13A.
[0045] Furthermore, when the electrically-conductive elastic
component 12 is fitted to the fitting part 13A of the shaft part
13, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, a tip part 21 of the coil spring 2
on the pen tip side is located on the bottom surface side of the
fitting part 13A. Then, by fitting the electrically-conductive
elastic component 12 to the fitting part 13A, the tip part 21 of
the coil spring 2 is clamped by the electrically-conductive elastic
component 12 and the shaft part 13 and the coil spring 2 can
electrically be connected and fixed to the fitting part 13A of the
shaft part 13.
[0046] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the tip part 21 of
the coil spring 2 on the pen tip side is a circular part with a
short diameter compared with the part that extends in a spiral
manner. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the fitting part
13A of the shaft part 13 is made to penetrate through the center
axis part of the coil spring 2 from the opposite side to the pen
tip side of the coil spring 2 toward the pen tip side. In this
case, the tip part 21 of the coil spring 2 is set to be located in
the fitting part 13A of the shaft part 13. Thereafter, the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 is fitted to the
fitting part 13A of the shaft part 13.
[0047] Due to this, as described with use of FIG. 3B, the coil
spring 2 is clamped by the electrically-conductive elastic
component 12 and the shaft part 13 and the coil spring 2 is
connected to the core body 1, and this connecting state is allowed
to be always kept. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the end
part of the coil spring 2 on the opposite side to the pen tip side
is made to be a straight line manner and is extended to be
electrically connected to the electronic circuit formed on the
circuit board 5 as described with use of FIG. 1. Thereby, the core
body 1 is always connected to the electronic circuit formed on the
circuit board 5.
[0048] Moreover, a fitting hole with a diameter somewhat shorter
than the diameter of the pen tip part 11 is made in the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 and the end part of
the pen tip part 11 on the opposite side to the pen tip side is
pushed into this fitting hole to mount the pen tip part 11. This
can connect the coil spring 2 to the core body 1 including the pen
tip part 11, the electrically-conductive elastic component 12, and
the shaft part 13 and keep the connecting state.
[0049] Furthermore, the electronic circuit formed on the circuit
board 5 is what is configured through connecting electronic parts
such as the oscillating circuit 51, the power supply circuit 52,
and a capacitor as described with use of FIG. 1. This electronic
circuit and the core body 1 are always connected through the coil
spring 2. This allows this electronic circuit to form a position
indication signal including information on the writing pressure
detected through the writing pressure detector 3 and supply the
position indication signal to the core body 1 at any time.
[0050] Moreover, the core body 1 including the pen tip part 11, the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12, and the shaft part 13
is disposed to penetrate through the center axis part of the coil
spring 2 as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Furthermore, when the
electronic pen Pn is not in the writing state, that is, in the
state in which a writing pressure is not applied to the core body
1, the core body 1 is set in the casing 10 of the electronic pen Pn
in the state in which the core body 1 is not biased by the coil
spring 2.
[0051] In other words, the coil spring 2 has the natural length in
the state in which the core body 1 and the electronic circuit on
the circuit board 5 are connected and in the state in which a
writing pressure is not applied to the core body 1 also as
described above. The natural length of the coil spring 2 means the
length when the coil spring 2 is not operated at all (is neither
expanded nor contracted) and refers to the length in the natural
state. However, the coil spring 2 is a coil spring that immediately
contracts according to the writing pressure when even a slight
writing pressure is applied to the core body 1 from the natural
length state and can rapidly return to the original natural length
when this writing pressure is removed.
[0052] That is, in the coil spring 2 of the electronic pen Pn, the
spring constant is sufficiently low and therefore the elastic
modulus is also low. Thus, the coil spring 2 contracts with a
slight writing pressure and can rapidly return to the original
state when this writing pressure is removed. For this reason, when
even a slight writing pressure is applied to the pen tip of the pen
tip part 11 configuring the core body 1, this writing pressure is
immediately transmitted to the writing pressure detector 3 and the
writing pressure value of this slight writing pressure can properly
be detected.
[0053] Furthermore, because the electronic circuit of the circuit
board 5 and the core body 1 are always electrically connected by
the coil spring 2, the position indication signal including the
immediately-detected writing pressure is supplied from the
electronic circuit to the core body 1 and can be transmitted toward
the position detecting device 200. That is, even when the pen tip
of the pen tip part 11 only gets contact with the operation surface
of the position detecting device 200 very slightly, the electronic
pen Pn can transmit the position indication signal indicating the
contact position thereof and the writing pressure toward the
position detecting device 200. Thus, delicate indication input
enabling reproduction of the situation in which a writing trace is
left through mere slight contact of a pencil with paper can be
carried out to the position detecting device 200. That is,
high-precision rendering input is enabled.
[0054] Moreover, as is understood also from the above description,
the summarization of the configuration of the electronic pen Pn of
the embodiment is as follows. The electrically-conductive core body
1 of the electronic pen Pn penetrates through the center axis part
of the coil spring 2. The tip part 21 of the coil spring 2 on the
pen tip side is always connected to the core body 1 and the other
end part is always connected to the electronic circuit formed on
the circuit board 5. Furthermore, the end part of the core body 1
on the opposite side to the pen tip side is inserted into the
fitting hole of the pressing component 31 of the writing pressure
detector 3 and acts on the writing pressure detector 3.
[0055] Furthermore, the connecting part between the core body 1 and
the coil spring 2 is as follows. The core body 1 includes the pen
tip part 11, the electrically-conductive elastic component 12, and
the shaft part 13 and the electrically-conductive elastic component
12 is fixed to the end part of the shaft part 13 on the pen tip
side. In addition, the tip part 21 of the coil spring 2 on the pen
tip side is clamped between the electrically-conductive elastic
component 12 and the shaft part 13 and thereby is fixed in such a
manner as to be always connected to the core body 1. The pen tip
part 11 is gripped and fixed by the electrically-conductive elastic
component 12 by being inserted into the fitting hole formed in the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12. In addition, the
other end part of the coil spring 2 is always connected to the
electronic circuit formed on the circuit board 5.
[0056] Due to this, detection of a slight writing pressure can also
be carried out properly as described above. Moreover, due to the
constant connecting between the core body 1 and the electronic
circuit formed on the circuit board 5, a high-precision electronic
pen that can properly transmit the position indication signal
including information that indicates the detected writing pressure
to the position detecting device 200 can be implemented.
[0057] The coil spring 2 in the case of the electronic pen Pn
described with use of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C is a coil spring with a
comparatively-long natural length that allows the shaft part 13 and
the writing pressure detector 3 to be located at the center axis
part of the coil spring from the vicinity of the boundary between
the fitting part 13A and the bar-shaped part 13B of the shaft part
13. Due to having such a comparatively-long natural length, the
coil spring 2 can absorb the load applied to the connecting parts
of the core body 1 and the electronic circuit according to the
writing pressure. Moreover, variation in writing pressure detection
of the electronic pen Pn due to variation in the coil spring 2 does
not occur and it becomes possible to implement an electronic pen
with high precision.
Effects of Embodiment
[0058] In the electronic pen Pn of the above-described embodiment,
the electronic circuit of the circuit board 5 and the core body 1
are always electrically connected by the coil spring 2. In this
case, connecting between the coil spring 2 and the core body 1 can
also be carried out surely and firmly. Thus, always the position
indication signal including writing pressure information is
supplied from the electronic circuit to the core body 1 and can be
transmitted toward the position detecting device 200. Furthermore,
the coil spring 2 is allowed to expand and contract in the natural
length state, and the spring constant is low and therefore the
elastic modulus is also low. For this reason, the coil spring 2
does not impede pressing of the writing pressure detector 3 by the
core body 1 and therefore detection of a slight writing pressure is
also possible.
[0059] Accordingly, in the case of the electronic pen Pn of this
embodiment, even when the pen tip of the pen tip part 11 only gets
contact with the operation surface of the position detecting device
200 very slightly, the position indication signal indicating the
contact position thereof and the writing pressure can be
transmitted toward the position detecting device 200. Thus,
delicate indication input enabling reproduction of the situation in
which a writing trace is left through mere slight contact of a
pencil with paper can be carried out to the position detecting
device 200.
[0060] Moreover, because the elastic modulus of the coil spring 2
is low, the coil spring 2 expands and contracts with a slight
force. Therefore, both regarding the core body 1 to which the coil
spring 2 is connected (fixed) and regarding the electronic circuit,
a large force is not applied to the relevant connecting part. Due
to this, variation in writing pressure detection of the electronic
pen due to variation in the coil spring does not occur and it
becomes possible to implement an electronic pen with high
precision. That is, an electronic pen that can carry out
high-precision rendering input and has high reliability can be
implemented.
Modification Example 1
[0061] In the electronic pen Pn of the above-described embodiment,
as described with use of FIG. 3, the electrically-conductive
elastic component 12 is mounted to the fitting part 13A formed at
the end part of the shaft part 13 on the pen tip side. The tip part
21 of the coil spring 2 is clamped and fixed by the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 and the shaft part 13.
In addition, the pen tip part 11 is inserted into the fitting hole
of the electrically-conductive elastic component 12 and the pen tip
part 11 is coupled to the shaft part 13. However, it is also
possible to employ a configuration in which the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12 is not used.
[0062] Specifically, a protrusion for gripping the pen tip part 11
is disposed inside the fitting part 13A formed at the tip part of
the shaft part 13 on the pen tip side. The protrusion can be
disposed in a ring manner along the inner wall inside the fitting
part 13A. Furthermore, one or more protrusions can be disposed on
the inner wall inside the fitting part 13A. The end part of the pen
tip part 11 on the opposite side to the pen tip side is inserted
and fixed into the fitting part 13A of the shaft part 13.
[0063] Moreover, it suffices that the tip part 21 of the coil
spring 2 is located near the inside bottom surface of the fitting
part 13A of the shaft part 13 in such a manner as not to be
shifted. Due to this, when the pen tip part 11 is inserted and
fitted into the fitting part 13A of the shaft part 13, the tip part
21 of the coil spring 2 can be clamped by the pen tip part 11 and
the shaft part 13 and can be connected and fixed to the core body
1. This can configure an electronic pen with the configuration in
which the electrically-conductive elastic component 12 is not
used.
[0064] The tip part 21 of the coil spring 2 may be fixed through
being bonded to the bottom surface part of the fitting part of the
shaft part 13 by an adhesive, for example, or may be fixed through
being sandwiched into a notch made in the bottom surface part of
the fitting part 13A. Various methods can be used for the
connecting and fixing of the tip part 21 of the coil spring 2 to
the shaft part 13.
Modification Example 2
[0065] FIG. 4 is a sectional view for explaining another
configuration example of the inside of the electronic pen of the
capacitive system. However, in FIG. 4, regarding a core body 1A and
a coil spring 2A, not a section but the whole thereof is
illustrated. In the electronic pen Pn described above with use of
FIG. 3, the core body 1 includes the pen tip part 11, the
electrically-conductive elastic component 12, and the shaft part
13. In contrast, the core body 1A of an electronic pen PnA of this
example is configured as a single core body.
[0066] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a casing 10A of the
electronic pen PnA of this example also has a tapered tip and the
tip part (pen tip) of the core body 1A is made to protrude from the
tapered tip. The end part of the core body 1A on the opposite side
to the pen tip side is inserted into a fitting hole of a holding
component 32A of a writing pressure detector 3A and can transmit
the writing pressure to the writing pressure detector 3A.
[0067] The writing pressure detector 3A of the electronic pen PnA
of this example has a configuration similar to that of the writing
pressure detector 3 of the electronic pen Pn described with use of
FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C although difference in details exists.
Specifically, in the writing pressure detector 3A, the holding
component 32A of the core body 1A and a pressing component 33A
continuous with the holding component 32A are disposed in a holder
31A. A pressing part that can move in the axis center direction in
association with the core body 1A includes the holding component
32A and the pressing component 33A.
[0068] A first electrode 34A is disposed on the opposite side to
the pen tip side across the holder 31A and a dielectric 35A is
disposed with the intermediary of a slight gap SP. A second
electrode 36A is disposed on the surface of the dielectric 35A on
the opposite side to the side of the first electrode 34A. As above,
the pressing part including the holding component 32A and the
pressing component 33A, the first electrode 34A, the gap SP, the
dielectric 35A, and the second electrode 36A are disposed, so that
the writing pressure detector 3A is configured.
[0069] The writing pressure detector 3A is capable of detecting the
writing pressure applied to the core body 1A similarly to the
writing pressure detector 3 of the electronic pen Pn described with
use of FIG. 3. Furthermore, holding components 61, 62, 63, 64, 65,
and so forth have a role in restriction, fixation, and so forth of
the position in the casing 10A regarding various parts mounted in
the casing 10A.
[0070] Furthermore, also in the case of the electronic pen PnA of
this example, a circuit board 5A on which an electronic circuit
configured through connecting the oscillating circuit 51, the power
supply circuit 52, a capacitor, and so forth is formed is disposed
at the rear stage of the writing pressure detector 3A. To the
electronic circuit formed on the circuit board 5A, as illustrated
in FIG. 4, the first electrode 34A and the second electrode 36A of
the writing pressure detector 3A are connected and a coil spring 2A
that can expand and contract and has electrical conductivity is
connected. The end part of the coil spring 2A on the pen tip side
is connected and fixed to the core body 1A at a connecting part 1Ab
of the core body 1A as illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0071] This causes the core body 1A and the electronic circuit on
the circuit board 5A to be in the state of being always connected.
Furthermore, the first electrode 34A and the second electrode 36A
of the writing pressure detector 3A are also in the state of being
always connected to the electronic circuit on the circuit board 5A.
Moreover, similarly to the coil spring 2 of the electronic pen Pn
of the above-described embodiment, the coil spring 2A is allowed to
expand and contract in the natural length state, and the spring
constant is sufficiently low and therefore the elastic modulus is
also low. Thus, the coil spring 2A contracts with a slight writing
pressure and can rapidly return to the original state when this
writing pressure is removed.
[0072] Therefore, also in the case of the electronic pen PnA of
this example, when a writing pressure is applied to the core body
1A, the coil spring 2A does not impede pressing of the writing
pressure detector 3A by the core body 1A. Furthermore, both
regarding the core body 1A to which the coil spring 2A is connected
(fixed) and regarding the electronic circuit, a large force is not
applied to the relevant connecting part. Moreover, variation in
writing pressure detection of the electronic pen due to variation
in the coil spring does not occur and it becomes possible to
implement an electronic pen with high precision.
[0073] Due to this, also in the case of the electronic pen PnA of
this example, detection of a slight writing pressure can also be
carried out properly. Furthermore, due to the constant connecting
between the core body 1A and the electronic circuit formed on the
circuit board 5A, the high-precision electronic pen PnA that can
properly transmit the position indication signal including
information that indicates the writing pressure to the position
detecting device 200 can be implemented. In the case of the
electronic pen PnA of this example, it is impossible to replace the
core body 1A by insertion-withdrawal operation. However, it is
possible that the main part of the electronic pen PnA is taken out
from the inside of the casing 10A and the user carries out
replacement work, obviously.
[0074] Furthermore, in the case of the electronic pen Pn described
with use of FIG. 3, the number of turns and the natural length of
the coil spring 2 can be set to appropriate values. Similarly, the
number of turns and the natural length of the coil spring 2A of the
electronic pen PnA described with use of FIG. 4 can be set to
appropriate values. The point is that it suffices that the number
of turns and the natural length with which transmission of the
writing pressure is impeded are not employed.
[0075] Moreover, both regarding the coil spring 2 of the electronic
pen Pn and regarding the coil spring 2A of the electronic pen PnA,
it suffices that the spring constant and the elastic modulus are
set to values that do not inhibit the movement of the core bodies 1
and 1A to which they are connected according to the writing
pressure and do not impose a load on the connecting parts.
[0076] It is to be noted that the embodiments of the present
disclosure are not limited to the foregoing embodiment, and that
various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of
the present disclosure.
* * * * *